Can You Duet – Top 5 Duos Perform

By On 06/28/2009 · 16 Comments · In Uncategorized

This week on Can You Duet (CMT, 8 pm Sat), the Top 5 Duos performed for the judges: Naomi Judd, Big Kenny of Big and Rich and Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Records, home of Taylor Swift. After the pairs performed the judges sent two of the pairs home.

Next week, the singles (contestants who were split from their original duos by the judges) will perform after the judges pair them up into brand-new duos.

Can You Duet features lots of really good singing without the annoying cannon fodder–surprising considering it comes from the same cannon-fodder loving folks who brought you American Idol.

My two favorite duos this week run on the alt-country side. The Stellas, featuring a married Canadian duo performed a kick ass version of Lucinda William’s “Can’t Let Go”, and Steel Magnolia, a couple out of Nashville sizzled on Ryan Adam’s “When the Stars Go Blue”

Those of you who remember The Next Great American Band from a couple of years ago may recognize second-place finishers, Sixwire, as the house band…

I mostly agree with the judges picks for elimination–the two teenaged girls who make up Harmon Creek, seemingly designed as Taylor Swift clones, were definitely NOT ready for prime time. But, I think I would have saved Chelsee and Rob, rather than the Australian duo, O’Shea. While the harmonies were a little sloppy, they both sing really well. Chelsee might be the best singer of the bunch. O’Shea were competent–just nothing really special there.

Check out the performances and the elimination after the Jump. What do you think? Who were your favorites? Who would you have eliminated?

Next week, American Idol Season 7 contestant, Brandon Green performs with the singles. According to the CYD website, he’s paired up with the very talented 18 year old, Jonanthan Cox.

Videos after the JUMP…

Mark and Jay O’Shea are O’Shea – “I’m the Lucky One” by Amy Grant

Chelsee Oaks and Rob Bolin are Chelsee and Rob – “Boondocks” by Little Big Town

Meghan Linsey and Josh Jones are Steel Magnolia – “The Stars Go Blue” by Ryan Adams

Spencer Bartoletti and Dessa Zuccaro are Harmon Creek – “Shake the Sugar Tree” by Pam Tillis

Marylynne Stella and Brad Stella are The Stellas – “Can’t Let Go” by Lucinda Williams

The Judges eliminate Harmon Creek and Chelsee and Rob

 
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  • http://emmarude65embarqmail.com carroll

    I agree with you about Chelsee and Rob. I thought they were really good. I didn’t care for the couple from down-under.

  • FolkFan

    I tend to agree with you, MJ, but Naomi did not like Rob, and that was probably that for them. My guess is that they’d love to rip Rob away from Chelsee and pair her with someone else.

  • Barbariba

    I would download that Steel Magnolia cover of When The Stars Go Blue. I thought they were great!

  • Victoria

    Wow, seems like there’s a lot more talent this year! I didn’t even make it through last season (although I did like the people who won), but they’ve actually got some good contestants this time. I guess I’ll have to add this to my list of reality TV addictions.

  • adamisthebomb

    what happened MJ?!! i loved the pink….

  • holeighannie

    I didn’t know where else to post this either, haha. I like the new layout a lot! It seems a bit sparse and I miss the pink too, but it’s very organized and the comments are much easier to read. :)

    On topic: I was happy with the groups they put through, although O’Shea need to add some spark ASAP. Chelsee and Rob were good, but I felt the disjointed quality the judges were hinting at, which is too bad. I really like Steel Magnolia, they have excellent chemistry, but Josh needs to work on/ditch the falsetto, hehe.

  • gingerly

    I thought the right ones went through when all was said an done. I don’t know that I’m loving the judges (when will that ever happen?) but their taste in music is so far the same as mine. I’m sure there will come a time when we disagree…it always happens.

  • hwc

    Can’t say I really like the version of When the Stars Go Blue these folk did. It is a very, very sad song and not really ideal for a bouncy pop version complete with pointy poses.

    When Ryan Adams performs it, there’s often not a dry eye in the house:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99sjZT1qB2Q

    Mr. Faith Hill’s version is pretty much a straight cover of the original, although not as moving.

    Here’s a different take on the duet, performed at Live 8 by the Irish chick band The Corrs and Bono. They seem to understand that it’s a sad, slow-dance song:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV_dbCF1jOA

    And, from the never looked at the lyrics, I’ll just turn it into a power ballad department, this American Idol version from Blake Lewis:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyd-FHiLzjw

    And from the Just Say No department, the Norwegian bubble gum version:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdp6MBpypKQ

  • TylerWV

    Love this show but unlike the judges, I don’t think this years picks are as good overall as season 1. Last years top 2 were phenomenal. I do love the Steel Magnolias. I wasnt impressed with any of the other duets, esp. the girls and the canadian couple. Something about them just doesnt do it for me. I do like 2 of the singles couples and can’t wait to see how they do. Glad you are covering this MJ. I think Lance Smith is a superb host too.

  • FolkFan

    The judges on this show (this year and last) seem so much more competent to me than the judges on AI that I tend to give them a ton of slack. Nice to see people who actually know what they’re talking about doing the judging.

    So far, I’m not as psyched about the talent as I was last year, but because of the different structure of the show this year, we’ve actually seen a lot less of them, and no pairings of all of those singles, than we did last year. So I’m trying to keep an open mind.

    Lance Smith is a good host—I like him on the video countdown, too. But he doesn’t yet have Ryan’s timing down for the announcement of who is in and who is out. Heh.

  • Meg23

    MJ, I’m so glad you’re covering this. I loved this show last season, although I didn’t care for the duo that won. I preferred the other duos in the top 3.
    As for this season, I’m digging Steel Magnolia and the Stellas. I’m also excited to see how Brandon’s judge-configured duo fares because I really love his voice. This show reminds me of the early season of Nashville Star when they still had really talented contestants.

  • SarahP

    hwc, thanks sooo much for the links. saw ryan adam’s when the stars go blue and i think i must’ve heard it like twenty times today. its sooo beautiful and after listening to it, i listened to the steel magnolia’s version again, which is pretty nice but not as beautiful and haunting as ryan adam’s version.

  • http://www.therealoshea.com Can You Duet Fan

    I thought the O’SHEA performance was great! I must say I probably am a bit biased though, I have seen them live before at a regular show – and they were amazing!

    Their own songs are really great and I hope we get to see them perform one of them on the show.

    Here’s a link to their page if anyone wants to check it out.

    http://www.therealoshea.com

    Hopefully they will get more of a chance to shine next week.

    Thanks for posting the youtube performances!

    Jeff.

    P.S I also liked Chelsee’s voice – I thought she could sing great. Not sure what Naomi is on about.

  • thejoyseyboy

    I got to see both episodes now, I watched a couple eps. last year, and I think this years talent is much better. The judges definitely got the correct top 3.
    Harmon Creek is a Taylor Swift lookalike/wannabe, NEWSFLASH, Borcheta already has a Taylor Swift.
    Chelsea and Rob are a very nice couple, talented, sound pretty good, but they do not have the commercial appeal that the top 3 couples have, and it sounds like Rob is content rolling hot dogs.
    Steel: They have talent, but I don’t see one country bone in their body. I see an alt-pop duo. Cyndi lauper meets Jacob Dylan, and they need to mature much more. Lots of flash in the pan potential. The girl, young, bar fly, with the right “connection” could get her foot in the door.
    Stella: I like this couple, mature, tons of chemistry, seasoned (I mean that in the best way possible), and a lot like Joey and Rory from last season (i.e. the most successful duo from last season). No wardrobe change needed, i.e. Rory’s overalls. This couple has lots of potential, worst case scenario, an overstock.com commercial.
    Oshea: Very talented, powerful vocals, commercial appeal, SEXY, and a great personality from what I could see on the show. Like Stella, I see lots of potential here.
    Looking forward to the next show. I think the 5 “paired” duo’s have the biggest mountain to climb.
    Lance Smith: Great host, great on the countdown also.
    Big Kenny: Funny, looks like he’s not getting the green light to really say what he wants.
    Naomi: Not a fan of her as a judge, I think she’s a little too into herself, times have changed since the Judd’s were popular…just sayin’.
    Borchetta: I don’t have much positive to say about him, so i’ll keep it to myself. I’ve never met him, but his character from the show so far is not worth typing about.

  • lizbatesbe

    i agree with Jeff….i loved O’Shea! ive seen both episodes and i cant wait for the rest. O’Shea is by far my favorite! ive seen them live too, doing their own stuff and its amazing!!!

    liz

  • thejoyseyboy

    I’ve looked all over the web and can’t seem to find Amy Grant’s version of “The Lucky One”, however, Faith Hill’s version is everywhere and O’Shea did a pretty darn good job of it. After reading the article again, I’m off to find a glass of water to wash down the grain of salt.